A film record of the memories of Krakow citizens
about the experiences of 1939-1956
The "Save the Memory" project is a series of video interviews with witnesses of history from 1939- 1956. It was created to preserve the memories and experiences of the heroes and heroines from this period.
At the beginning of the film. the logos of the Polish History Museum are illustrated, featuring a yellow crown, gray wings, and the letter "P" in red with the Polish flag in the center. Also detailed is the phrase ”Patriotism of Tomorrow” with the letter "P" in black. Underneath these icons, there is a white inscription "Project co-financed by the Museum of Polish History in Warsaw as part of the Patriotism of Tomorrow program."
The main character of the film is Jozef Ostafin, born in 1894, died in 1947. He was a legionnaire,
Silesian uprising insurgent, MP for the Second Polish Republic, soldier of the ZWZ-AK, pseudonym
"Chudy" and "Miłosz". After the war he was anactivist in the Freedom and Independence (WiN)
organization. He was sentenced to death by the communist regime.
His story is told by his daughter - Jadwiga Martynowa. The woman is in the room, and behind her
hangs a painting framed in a thick, gilded frame. Next to it can be seen part of a green couch,
covered from above with a yellow bedspread. The woman is about 80 years old and is framed to her
shoulders. Her hair is gray and pinned up. She is dressed in a black fabric blouse with white peas and
a white ball necklace.
Throughout the film, she shows footage from her private archive, family photos, and her father's
documents. At the end of the film appears a blackboard with the blue logo of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow and the white logo of Oskar Schindler's Emalia Factory Lipowa 4. At the bottom is the website address: www.ocalicpamiec.mhk.pl and the year of production - 2013.
1894 – 1947
A black and white portrait photo of a young Józef. The man has his hair pulled back, deep-set eyes, and mustache. He is dressed in a military uniform.
Józef Ostafin (born 7 March 1894 in Sułkowice, died 13 November 1947 in Kraków), son of Rozalia (family name Klimas) and Jakub. Polish Legions soldier, insurgent in the Silesia Uprisings, member of Parliament, soldier of ZWZ-AK. Pseudonyms: Chudy, Miłosz. After WWII he was a member of Wolność i Niezawisłość (WiN), sentenced to death by the communist regime.
Józef Ostafin studied at St Anne school in Kraków, and took his school leaving exam matura in 1914.
In 1914 he joined the Polish Legions and fought in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Bukovina and Volhynia regions. In 1918 he became involved in the activities of POW (Polish Military Organization). In 1919 he fought in the Polish–Soviet War defending Lviv and Przemyśl and in the Silesian Uprisings.
In 1922 he graduated from Dubiańska Akademia Rolnicza (Department of Agriculture and Forestry) and took a position as a manager in Lviv’s bishops' property. Later he worked in the Economy Association of Easter Małopolska. In 1932 he started his career as a teacher. He was twice an MP, first in 1935 and then in 1938.
When WWII broke out Ostafin was arrested in Lviv by the Soviets. Following his release in 1940 he managed to get through to Kraków where he was joined by his wife and daughters. They lived in a house that belonged to the Kraków Curia on 63 Grodzka Street. Ostafin found work in two German companies: Kirchoff (road building) and then Sadgustelle (a seeds and grain company).
In 1941 he joined the underground resistance ZWZ AK. From 1943 he was a clerk in the Agriculture Department of the Government Delegation for Poland, where he organized sabotage operations to secure deliveries to the underground movement from German resources. He was one of the first people to learn about the Katyń massacre in which Polish officers and intelligentsia were murdered by the Soviet NKVD.
In 1943 he went into hiding after learning that the Gestapo was looking for him. In 1944 he joined the NIE organization whose task was to continue fighting for Poland’s independence after the Red Army invaded Poland.
After the war, he remained in hiding. He worked in agricultural properties in Wierzbno and Giebułtów. He continued his work for the underground anticommunist movement. From the autumn of 1945, he was active in the WiN organization (pseudonym Chudy).
He was arrested on 19 September 1946 and transported to WUBP headquarters on Inwalidów Square in Kraków. After 8 months, together with other members of WiN, he was placed in Montelupich prison in Kraków.
On 10 October 1947, a military court sentenced him to death for his activities in, according to the communist regime, anti-Poland organizations. His public rights and property were confiscated. President Bolesław Bierut did not grant him a pardon. Józef Ostafin was executed on 13 November 1947, at 7.10 pm in the backyard of Montelupich prison in Kraków. His burial place remains unknown.
In 1991 Józef Ostafin was politically rehabilitated.
He was awarded Srebrny Krzyż Virtuti Militari (1921), Krzyż Niepodległości (1931), Krzyż Oficerski Orderu Polonia Restituta (1937), Krzyż Walecznych (1922), Śląska Wstęga Waleczności i Zasług (1921).
He married Kazimiera Medyńska and had three daughters Krystyna, Janina, and Jadwiga.
Gallery
Józef Ostafin. Kraków c. 1914.
Black and white portrait photo of twenty-year-old Jozef Ostafin at the Secondary School of B. Nowodworski in Kraków, which he attended. The man is captured from the waist up. He has dark wavy hair, full lips, and soft facial features. He is dressed in a uniform with a high collar.
Kazimiera Ostafin, Stanisław’s wife. 1930s.
Black and white portrait photograph of Józef's wife Kazimiera Ostafin. She is depicted from her chest up, looking away from the lens. The woman is in her mid-twenties, with bundled brown hair and deep-set eyes. She is dressed in a white blouse with a triangular neckline with lace embellishment and a dark sweater.
The Ostafins. 1938.
Black and white photograph of the Ostafin family of five. In the foreground there are three children captured from the waist up. From the left is the oldest daughter, aged about eleven. She has short black hair and a straight fringe ending above her eyebrows. Next to her, in the centre stands a very young girl; likevhervsister, she has short-cut hair and a distinctive fringe. She is dressed in a dress with a white decorative collar. The third girl is about eight years old, with long dark hair braided into two pigtails. The two older girls are dressed in uniforms. Behind them stands their parents. Joseph has a serious expression, straight eyebrows and side-parted hair. He is dressed in a dark suit, tie and white shirt. Next to him stands Kazimiera in a dark floral dress, with a white flower pinned in the middle of her neckline.
Józef Ostafin in Lviv in 1935.
A black and white photograph of Joseph Ostafin in Lviv. The photograph was taken on a wide street covered with snow. In the background, you can see passers-by, lamp posts, and trees. The man is middle-aged with a mustache and a hat on his head. He is dressed in a thick coat with a fur collar and gloves. Under his hand, he holds a package and a black briefcase.
Józef Ostafin. C. 1930.
Black and white photo of Józef Ostafin in a restaurant. He is sitting at a table covered with a white tablecloth in front of large, bright windows overlooking the trees. The man is middle-aged, with a mustache and short dark hair. He is dressed in a gray suit, white shirt, and bowtie. He holds a menu in his hand and looks to the side.
Związek Strzelecki ID. 1932.
Two-sided membership card of the Rifleman's Association issued to Jozef Ostafin. On the left side, is a large photo of a man with short-cropped hair and a mustache. He is dressed in a light-colored suit and bowtie. Below the photo is his signature. On the other side are personal details, rank, function, and assignment in the union, and the expiration date of membership. The membership card was signed by the Commander of the Volyn Sub-district. A purple stamp of the Riflemen's Association with an eagle in the center is fixed on the crease of both sides.
Virtuti Military certificate. 1933.
Virtuti Militari Certification for Jozef Ostafin. On the left side a photo of a man in uniform, with medals on his chest. On the right side at the top the sign of the order, underneath the content of the certification and the signature of the Head of the Chapter Office. Lower grated stamp with emblem - eagle, in the middle.
Member of Parliament ID. 1935.
Jozef Ostafin's parliamentary pass. On the left side is a photo of a man with a mustache and hair combed to the left. He is dressed in a black suit and tie. Below him is the signature of the owner. On the right side are the contents of the document and the signature of the Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic. At the very bottom the place of issue - Warsaw and the date - October 10, 1935.
Józef Ostafin (second from the right). Sielce c. 1942.
Black and white photo of Józef Ostafin with friends. They are standing on the road, behind them a concrete wall connecting to the right with a large wooden door and a picket fence. A group of three men and one woman – all middle-aged, wearing coats and hats.
Józef Ostafin with his family in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
Black and white photo of Józef Ostafin with his wife and four offspring. The family poses in the garden against a backdrop of trees. The children are about three to eight years old. The man on the far left is holding the hand of the youngest daughter. She is dressed in a white pleated skirt and long- sleeved blouse. Behind her stands the tallest of the girls. She has blonde hair and a dress with a collar. Next to her stands a third daughter with light-coloured hair, she is dressed in a white knee- length dress. Next to her stands a brother with short, dark hair. He is dressed in elegant knee-length shorts and a jacket with a white collar. Behind him stands Kazimiera, wearing her hair tied up, a light-coloured jacket, and a black skirt. She is the only one not looking into the camera.
Jadwiga Ostafin, Józef’s daughter. 1947.
Black and white photo of teenage Jadwiga Ostafin. The frame covers her from mid forehead to neck. The woman has delicate eyebrows, dark hair, and a gentle gaze smiling slightly. On the bottom right side corner of the photo is a piece of red stamp.
Józef Ostafin in prison. Kraków 1946.
Black and white photo of Józef Ostafin after his arrest. The man is standing sideways showing his left profile. He is visibly emaciated with blackeyes and deep furrows. His hair is combed to the side. He is dressed in a dark jacket and a black shirt with a low collar.